World watch

May 25, 2013|By Larry Habegger and Laurie Weed, Special to Tribune Newspapers

Bahamas: An American was shot and killed in an armed robbery in Nassau on May 17, bringing the island nation's murder count to 40 for this year. Police reports show that armed robbery is on the rise in the Bahamas. Since the beginning of 2013, several U.S. citizens have been robbed and some seriously injured. The U.S. Embassy in Nassau has issued an updated security alert, recommending that visitors be vigilant while traveling in the country and take appropriate precautions. More information is available on the embassy's website at nassau.usembassy.gov.

Venezuela: Though it often is considered the "safer" country compared with Colombia, Venezuela may be replacing its neighbor as South America's kidnapping capital. The official figure of 583 kidnappings in 2012 is likely much lower than the actual number of cases because as many as 80 percent of kidnappings go unreported. The Venezuelan-Colombian border has long been controlled by guerrilla groups and criminal gangs whose activities seem to be spreading into the western and central regions. Police sources have reported a trend in binational criminal gangs operating kidnapping rings, particularly in the Capital District and the states of Merida and Zulia, near the border.

Argentina: Latin America's largest air carrier, LAN Airlines, suspended all flights in Argentina on May 17 in a dispute with the company that handles ground services. Hundreds of travelers were stranded at airports across the country while state-owned Intercargo, the ground-services company, refused to provide passenger buses or ramps, to clean planes or to unload luggage, citing a multimillion-dollar debt owed to it by the Chilean airline. Flight services resumed slowly the next morning after the companies reached an agreement.

Sri Lanka: Some airport immigration officials in Colombo may be extorting money from unsuspecting tourists for "visa fees" that are not required. Though most tourist visas can be obtained online before arrival, not all travelers use this service. Recent reports from the airport indicate that officers there have been charging $20 to $50 to issue 48-hour transit visas on arrival. But according to the government's website, the 48-hour transit visa is free to those who qualify.

Indonesia: A 23-year-old British backpacker died in Sumatra after drinking local whiskey that may have been contaminated. The young woman, who was trekking in the rain forest with her boyfriend, a fellow Briton, fell ill after consuming Mansion, a local spirit, in the Bukit Lawang region. She died the next day. Police were investigating whether methanol poisoning may be involved. Though it is illegal to distill or mix alcohol with methanol, which makes it stronger and potentially fatal, the practice also is fairly common. Travelers should never consume off-label or "bootleg" spirits and should always be cautious of very cheap or free mixed drinks offered in bars or guesthouses.

Compiled from news services and travel sources. For updates, check with the State Department at 888-407-4747, travel.state.gov.